West Ham wins first European trophy in 58 years with late goal
A historic moment was witnessed as West Ham United claimed their first European trophy in 58 years, defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in the Europa Conference League final. The late-game goal by Jarrod Bowen in the 90th minute brought an end to the long wait for the Hammers, who last won silverware in the 1980 FA Cup.
The match took place in Prague on Wednesday, with Bowen’s goal following a brilliant pass from Lucas Paqueta. This victory not only marks West Ham’s second-ever European title, but also secures them a spot in the Europa League next season.
Bowen shared his excitement with BT Sport, saying, “I’m so happy. We haven’t had the best season, myself included, but to do it tonight, I’m over the moon.” West Ham’s European campaign was indeed impressive, as they went unbeaten through qualifying and won 12 out of 13 games in the tournament.
West Ham coach David Moyes, whose job was under threat earlier in the season, expressed his joy at the victory: “I’ve had a long career in football and you don’t get many moments like this.” Moyes became the first Scottish coach to win a UEFA competition since 2008, when Alex Ferguson claimed his second Champions League title with Manchester United.
Fiorentina, who last won a European title in 1961, dominated possession in the first half and nearly took the lead just before the break. However, a disallowed goal for offside and Bowen’s last-minute strike left the Italian side defeated. Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano said, “Tonight, I honestly didn’t imagine it could finish like this.”
Unfortunately, the match was also marred by violence, with West Ham issuing a statement condemning the behaviour of some of their supporters. Fiorentina defender Cristiano Biraghi was injured by an object thrown from the crowd during the match, requiring a head strapping to continue playing. Additionally, clashes between West Ham fans and riot police took place in Prague after the match, as well as an earlier incident where Czech police detained 16 Italian fans for attacking West Ham supporters.
Despite the incidents, West Ham’s victory remains a significant achievement for the team and its fans, marking a memorable moment in the club’s history.
